Vacuum apparatus.



P. C. LITTLE. VACUUM APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11. 1909,

I996,991 Patented July 4,1911.

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v @L/ /LQXQV P.'C. LITTLE. VACUUM APPARATUS: APPLICATION FILED JUNI: 11. 1909.

Patented July 4, 1911.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL C. LITTLE, OF CARNEGIE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO CLEANING DEVICES MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F PITTSBRG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

VACUUM APPARATUS.

vSpeccation of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL C. LrrrLE, a resident of Carnegie, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have in `vented a new and useful Improvement in Vacuum Apparatus; and -I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exactdescription thereof.

Myinvention relates to vacuum apparatus and more particularly to stationary appa` ratus of this nature for use in dwellings or small buildings where a' cheap and compact apparatus is desired. Its object is toprovide a compact separator tank which will effectively remove the dust and other dirt from the incoming air; which can be readily cleaned and -kept in working order, and .which can be setup in a small space and which does not require expert attention.

To these ends myinvention contemplates, generally stated, a lvacuum or lpneumatic separating apparatus provided with a suitable inlet to receive the air containing the dust, a suitable pump connection to maintain the air current, a wall of porous material arranged in the path of the air entering the inlet, a further cleansing medium, preferably water, oil or the like, and baffle plating adapted to direct the air into the cleansing medium.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side view showing diagrammatically the separator and pump of my invention as installed. Fig. 2

is a vertical section of the separator, and' Fig. 3 is a like section of the pump. Fig.- 4 is a detail section of the removable top f` of the separator and attached mechanism, and Fig. 5 is an end view partly in section* of the pump showing the valve box. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a modified form of separator.

The separator 1y has the thin cylindrical wall 2 and the bottom 3 which is constructed water tight. It has the removable top 4, .which is preferably constructed of heavier material than the sidesso as to resist the atmospheric pressure brought to bear by the operation of the device." The separator 4 has ythe inlet 5 to which the hose 6 leading tothe tool or`collector 8 is attached. 'The inlet 5 is also preferably provided with the observation-glass 9 for the purpose of en;

abling theoperator to observe the operation of the apparatus. The inlet pipe 10 extends downwardlyl from the inlet, and attached to its lower end is the dry sack 11. This sack 11 is preferably held to the pipe 10 by the clamp 12. .The removable top :4 is preferably vprovided with a rubber gasket 13 which fits on the beaded top 14 of the cylindrical side 2. The function of this gasket 13 is to form a tight air seal so as to fasten the top flush to the tank 1 when the apparatus is in operation.

Inclosing the sack 11 is the can or box 15 having the cylindrical side wall 16, which acts as a baille plate. This box or can' 15 is of water tight construction, and floats or rests in the water 17 which normally fills the bottom of the separator tank 1. Attached to the top 4 is thebaile-plating 18 which is preferably of cylindrical construction, inclosing the side 16 of the can 15. This baille plating 18 extends below the normal water level in the tank andis'provided in its bottom portionwith the holes 19, as

shown. The top 4 is also provided with the safety valve'20 which has the coiled spring 21 and nut- 22 working on the threadedfstud 23 by which the resistance ofthe spring may be adjusted. As the top is held tight tothe tank 1 merely by atmospheric pressure durin'g operation, this valve acts to prevent the vacuum within the apparatus becoming too high', and affordsja ready means of regulating the suction .when light or frail objects are being cleaned. 4The pipe24 is vconnected to the bottom of the separator l and is provided with the valve 25 by means of which theusd and dirty water may be flushed out of the separator 1. The pipe 26 leads to the pump 27. When, under the influence of the pump 27 the suction of air through the tool 8, hose 6 and se arator 1 is effected, the removable top 4 1s forced downwardly against the beaded top 14 of the separator, and the air containing dust, dirt and small objects is sucked into the. dry sack 1 1 and through a tortuous passage around the baffle plating 16 and 18, as indicated in Fig. 2, and through the pipe 26 to the pump. The sack 11 is constructed of hop-sacking, cotton, wire' mesh or other finely porous material, -and serves to remove the grosser impurities and a large part of the dust from the incoming air. After passing through the sack 11 the air, still containing some dust and finer impurities, is sucked up through the tortuous passage around the bale plating 16 and through the water 17 .30 l x 1n ythe receptacle =62p`suspended,.from the manner -in-vacuum l systems the tool. 8 n operated byhand. When it is desired to clean theseparator the pumpisstopped and the top 4 lited,-carry1ng with it the dry4 sack 11. This vsack may then be` removed and burned, or destroyedin any manner, and the` pipe 10 conveniently cleaned. A

new sack canl be readilyattached bythe c'lamp'12. The dirty water17 is liushed out by the valve 25` and a clean stream of water is preferably flushed throughthe separator so 'as to elfectively 'clean' it internally, the'rcasef-l bein valso removed and cleaned. The top `4.and lts attached-.parts can then be VVreadily frestored to operative position; and lthe-device is operation.

i then ready lfor renewed 6 illustrates a-modiiied form of apparatus. The dry sack 61.15 here .carrled separator tank 63 by the arms64. --The receptacle 62 has the-removable suctlon 'top 65, and the separator tankv 63 has' the like top '66. The pipe 67 leads'from thereceptacle62 to the tank 63. The inverted baillel y box 68.is4 carried bythe elbow extension 69 of the' pipe 67, land is provided'with the i holes 70 'under the water 71.2The collector 4 0 tool"f 8,'hose 6,`pipe 26 and w'falyel26.v are similar -to these parts as employed 1n the embodiment of Figs.` 1 ,2 and 4. The liush` 'cock 72 is attached to the tank -63 for cleaning'purposes", and the cock'73 to the receptacle 62. This device is analogous in operation lto the former embodiment, the air` passingli'rst throughthe dry sack 61, and then in succession through the receptacle" 62,'pipej67, baille box 68 and holes 69,andy Water 70 to the, pipe 26 leading'to the pump. Thel top'j65'canfbe removed andthe dry `sack 61" y,replaced without disturbingqthe other parts oftheapparatus; and the apparatus can be conveniently set up in'aspace of Very moderate height. l f The pump'27 has the piston 28zand piston rod29 which isI driven by any suitable engine or motor, not s hown The `pump .cylinder l3(1), valve box I31, and intake pas-v sagebox 32 maybe convenientlycast integrally. The bearing '33 is :conveniently carried@ by the casting 34'fattached to the bed plate '35 of the`pump., The 4cylinder head 36 is providedwith the stuffing box 37'aro1 1n`d the piston rod 29. The intake box 31. The puppet valves 48 and 49 pla pipe 26 opens into the intake Apassage 38, which connects with the port 39 in the cylinder head 36, and with the opposite port 40 in the'cylinder head 41. The port`42 in the cylinder head 41 opens into the passage 43 which opens-by the port 44`into thevalve boxf31 and the `opposite port 45 in the cylinder head 36 opens into the passage 46 which leads .to the port 47 into the valve on the ports 39 and 40 respectively, and the puppet valves 50 and 51l play on the ports 44 and 47 respectively. The puppet valve 48 .is provided with the 'studs 52 1n the cylinder head 36 and the holes l53 through which these studs extend. The puppet valve 51 has the studs 58 in the cylinder head 36 and the like holes 59. The puppet valve 50 has like studs 54 in the cylinder head 41 and like holes 55, and the puppet valve 49 hasthe 'like studs 56 in the cylinder head acv 41 and likeholes 57. These pup et valves i all operate inwardly, as shown. Y en the piston 28 is making the.. ;f orw.ard stroke air is sucked through. the collector tool 8, the separator 1` and pipe 26, and through the port 39 into the pump cylinder 27. On the backward stroke of the ypiston rod 29 the l air in the pump cylinder 27 behind the piston 28 is orced through theport 45, passage 46, and port 47 'past the opened valve `51 vinto the valve box `31 .and out through the exhaust '59. At the same time the valve 48 is closed and likewise the valve 50, 4and the valve v49 is opened by the suction action in the cylinder 27 and the air sucked into the cylinder in front ofthe piston. At the yroo next forward stroke this air is forced i through the passages 42, 43 and 44y past the open valve 50 into the valvechest 31 and out throu h the exhaust 59, the valve 49 being closedg.

' Thepuppet valves of my device are siml .ple and cheap of construction and efectiv'e in operation and I have found them very eective in a pump for -use in connection with the separator of my invention, as they provide the necessary air-tight closure for .the ports and at the same tlme are almos't fool-proof? and very unlikely to get out of order or require repair. This isof special advantage in apparatus of this nature, designed particular y for use indwellings and small buildings wherean expert mechanic to operate the ap' aratus is not em lo ed.

-WhatIclaim-igz-A l p y 1. In -vacuumf separating apparatus having an 'inlet 'and 'a suitable pump connection, al wall of "porous'material arranged in the path of the air.' entering through said inlet, a further cleansin medium, and baiie plating` '.adapted.to irect said air into said cleansing medium.

2. Vacuum separating apparatus provided with inlet means and havmg a dry sackof tially cylindrical baille lplate supported by` said top and surrounding said dry sack.

4. A separator for vacuum apparatus comprising` a tank having a suitable inlet, a dry sack of porous material in the path of the incoming air through said inlet, av can having an open top and closed bottom lin closing said porous sack, baliie plating out--l side of said can, and a suitable outlet for the air after passing said baiie plating.

5; A separator for vacuum apparatus comprising a tank having a removable top, a,

suitable inlet pipe through said top, a p0- rous sack attached to said inlet pipe, a can in said tank inclosing said sack and having an open top, a bafileplate attached to said removable top to provide a tortuous passage for the incoming air after passing said can, and a suitable outlet.

6. A separator :for vacuum apparatus comprising a tank having a removable top, a suitable inletv` pipe through said top, a porous sack attached to said inlet pipe, a can in said tank inclosing said sack andhavl ing an open top, an annular battle plate atF tached to said removable top and inclosing said can, and a suitable outlet.

7. A separator for vacuumtsystems comprising a tank having a suitable inlet and a dry sack ot porous material in the path of the incoming air through said inlet, said tank being adapted to hold a suitable amount of Water, a can in said tank having an open top and inclosing said sack an separating it from said water, baffle plating in the path of said incoming air through said separator and adapted to direct it' through said Water, and an outlet forsaid air.

8. A separator for vvacuum apparatus comprising a Itank providedwith a removable top and adapted to carry a suitable amount of Water, a dry sack attached to a suitable inlet through said top, a can in said Water inclosing said sack and having an open top and being adapted to separate said sack from said Water, an annular baiile plate attached to said removable top and extending normally into said water and provided with holes under Water, and an outlet forV the cleansed air.

9. A separator vfor vacuum apparatus.

comprising a tank provided-With a removable top and adapted to carry a suitable amount of Water, a dry sack attached to a suitable inlet through said top, a can in said' Water inclosing said sack and having an open top and being adapted to separate said sack from said Water, an annular bafile plate attached to said -removable top and extending normally into Said Water and provided with holes under Water, an outlet for the cleansed air, and a iiushv valve in said tank. In testimony whereof, vI the said PAUL C. Lrr'rLE have hereunto set my hand.

PAUL C. LITTLE. Witnesses:

ROBERT C. To'rTEN, J. F. WILL. 

